Marlo Stanfield quotes from The Wire

Marlo

[to Herc] But you know cameras. Kinda like pigeons in the storm. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes they come back, sometimes... but I'll keep an ear out on it.

You think I dream of comin' to work up in this shit on a Sunday mornin'. Tell all my friends what a good job I got. I'm workin' to support a family man. Pretend I ain't talking to you. Pretend like I ain't even on this Earth. I know what you are, and I ain't steppin' to, but I am a man, and you just clip that shit and act like you don't even know I'm there.

Marlo

I don't.

I'm here. [Marlo moves closer] Look, I told you I wasn't steppin' to. I ain't disrespectin' you, son.

Marlo

You want it to be one way.

What?

Marlo

You want it to be one way.

Man, I don't...

Marlo

You want it to be one way.

Man, STOP! Stop, sayin' that.

Marlo

But it's the other way.

Marlo

That's my money.

Omar

Man, money ain't got no owners. Only spenders.

Omar

[to Marlo] I like that ring too. [pause] Boy, you got me confused with a man who repeat himself.

Avon

Surprise. Heh. My man Sergei thought we should talk first.

Marlo

Talk about what?

Avon

That's on you, young'un. Whatever business you trying to do through the Russian, you gotta go through me first.

Marlo

Yeah?

Avon

Yeah. 'Cuz up in this bitch here, I'm- I'm what you might consider... an authority figure. Y'know, everybody gotta get my help or ask my advice, like, all kinds of shit. Sergei stepped to me the other day, saying this nigga Marlo, who he don't even know, just be sending him cash money to get on his visiting list. So then he asked me if I knew Marlo; I told him "Hell yeah, I know Marlo real well." Y'know, over in the west-side, everybody know everybody, right?

Avon

Let me help you find your tongue - you trying to get to the Russian so you can get a line to his people. You trying to get to the Greek motherfuckers... because if you can, you wanna cut Proposition Joe and all them other east-side bitches out the connect. I mean, you a natural businessman, right? (Marlo chuckles) But this is the thing, though. And I mean, y'know, I'm wit'chu on all that as far as it goes, you know? West-side definitely need to stick together, you know what I mean, and all the fuss about you coming at me? I say let bygones be bygones, but fuck all them east-side bitches. That's just the way I feel about it; I got nothing but love in my heart for west-side niggas, nothing but love. Of course... I mean, y'know, I got to have my taste, too.

Marlo

Figured that.

Avon

So send my sister a hundred large... and the next time you come in Jessup, it won't be my grill talking at you. My word on that.

Marlo

A hundred large, huh?

Avon

...So wassup, man? Wassup wit'chu otherwise, y'know?

Marlo

Ah, the game is the game.

Avon

Always.

Proposition Joe

I treated you like a son.

Marlo

I wasn't made to play the son.

Proposition Joe

Proposition, then--I just step out the way. You never hear from me again. I just disappear.

Marlo

Joe, you'd be up into mischief in no time. Truth is, you wouldn't be able to change up any more than me.

Marlo

Man, I don't talk on no cell phones.

Spiros

Here. To call for lunch, you can talk. To call your girl, you can talk. To call your lawyer even, you can talk--the law says that is between you and the lawyer. Alright? To find out what movie is playing down the street, you can talk. All of that is good because all of that tells them... there is nothing good to hear.

Marlo

[after finding out Omar jumped from a 5th floor balcony] Don't seem possible.

Chris

It don't.

Marlo

That's some Spiderman shit there. We missed our shot. Now he goin' be at us.

Chris Partlow

Omar tried calling you out by name, but shit, no one --

Marlo Stanfield

What he say about me?

Chris Partlow

Nothing, man. Just talking shit.

Marlo Stanfield

He used my name? In the street?

Marlo Stanfield

Talk, motherfucker!

He just, you know, say that you need to step to and that . . . I don't know. He just running his mouth some.

Marlo Stanfield

He call me a punk?

Chris Partlow

It was bullshit, man. You ain't need that on your mind.

Marlo Stanfield

What the fuck you know about what I need on my mind, motherfucker? My name was on the street? When we bounce from this shit here, y'all going to go down on them corners and let the people know: Word did not get back to me. Let them know Marlo step to any motherfucker -- Omar, Barksdale, whoever. My name is my name!